Decree No. 2022-743/PRN/PM of 29 September 2022 was meant to revolutionise public procurement in Niger. By introducing the competitive dialogue procedure, the authorities promised to streamline public spending, boost transparency and give the state access to the technical expertise needed for major development projects.
Three years on, the verdict is clear: the reform has been little more than a communications exercise, a mirage of modernisation that has delivered no tangible benefit to Niger’s economy.
A sophisticated procedure that never left the paper
On paper, competitive dialogue looked appealing: it allowed public buyers to negotiate with shortlisted candidates to co-design the most suitable technical, legal or financial solutions. But in the daily routine of Nigerien administrations, the provision has remained a dead letter.
- No technical uptake: Without proper training or clear methodological guides for procurement officers, the mechanism is seen as too complex and cumbersome to use.
- Stuck in old habits: Contracting authorities keep favouring traditional methods or, worse, overusing derogatory procedures without delivering the added value promised by the 2022 text.
- No flagship projects: In three years, the major infrastructure contracts that were supposed to benefit from this competitive flexibility have produced no visible spin-offs or measurable efficiency gains for the public purse.
From ‘refoundation’ rhetoric to the reality of direct deals
While the language of ‘refoundation’ and strict management is on everyone’s lips, the persistence of direct award practices and negotiated deals contradicts the intentions set out in the 2022 decree.
Instead of fostering healthy competition and transparency, the revamped legal framework often serves as an administrative shop window to reassure observers, while realities on the ground remain marked by opacity and a lack of accountability. Local firms, which were supposed to be the first beneficiaries of a more open dialogue with the state, continue to complain about restricted access to major opportunities and slow procedures.
The record of an ineffective legal framework
After three years of theoretical application, the record of the 29 September 2022 decree highlights the gap between legislative inflation and operational reality:
- No impact on cost reduction: The financial optimisation expected from stronger competition has not materialised in public accounts.
- Transparency in name only: Audits and evaluation reports on the actual use of competitive dialogue are virtually non-existent.
- A brake on investment: The gap between displayed texts and their real application fosters uncertainty for serious economic partners.
Decree No. 2022-743 has been nothing more than a legal veneer with no knock-on effect. Tested by time, the introduction of competitive dialogue looks more like a public relations move than a genuine lever for transforming public procurement in Niger.
